This article was written by Funaki and published on Formula Nippon site. Formula Nippon is the most prestigious motorsport-series in Japan. Many famous drivers began their career there, e.g. Ralf Schumacher. Michal Dolezal, a Czech jumper mentioned in the text, stayed in Japan then, having been invited by Kazuyoshi. They were training together for over a month, in Hakuba and other places.



It was Formula 1 Grand Prix of Hungary that I watched one of the motor sports for the first time. Since then, I've been fascinated by that speed. When I came to watch Formula Nippon last year, I was given a ride in a Formula car with two seats and actually experienced 300km/h.  That made me very excited and moved. Ski jumpers slide down a jump hill at about 90km/h, but the feeling of the speed can't be compared with that of 300km/h.

Last month, when the training was off, I went to watch the second GP of Formula Nippon held at Motegi, together with Michal Dolezal. I was so excited because I had not watched any race for a long time. A motor race is really interesting. I can always learn something from every race, and it includes many things worthy to absorb.

I've noticed motor sports and ski jumping, which seem entirely different kind of sports, actually have many thigs in common. In the case of the motor race, keeping power is needed to run the same course over and over. On the other hand, ski jumping takes just a few seconds to perform although the training for the competition takes so long time. But, the most important point of both sports is "air resistance". We can jump far away with the air resistance being on our side, and like that, Formula cars can run through the curves harnessing the air resistance. Besides that, both are the sports which depend on the weather and wind.

It seemed Michal got to like Formula Nippon, he said he wanted to come to watch it again some day. Now we've become friends with some drivers and team staffs and they invite me for every race. But it's a pity that my busy schedule easily doesn't allow me to go, since training is the duty of athletes. I want to go to cheer them again when I have free time.

At last, I heartly wish all drivers and staffs of Formula Nippon good luck. Also I'm going to continue to make efforts toward the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002, to jump as far away as possible.

Kazuyoshi Funaki